Spark-arrester



UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE B. NICHOLS, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

SPARK-ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,331, dated September 12, 1882.

Application filed June 17, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. NICHOLS, of Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and use fnl Improvement in Spark-Arresters; and I do hereby dclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a locomotiveengine,showing myinvention. Fig.2isacr0sssectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the discharge-pipe and dustconductor.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to an improvement in spark-arresters for locomotive-engines and it consists in the construction and arrangement of devices by means of which the sparks are extinguished and the cinders distributed on the road-bed, while the fine dust is delivered into the ash-box; and it isan improvement on a spark-arresterinvented by me forming the subject-matter ofLetters Patent No. 253,883, dated February 21, 1882.

Although the invention described in said Letters Patent is perfectly satisfactory in its operation-extinguishing the sparks and distributing them as cinder in the road-bedthere is accompanying them a certain amount of fine dust,'which is apt to adhere to and accumulate on the working parts of the locomotive-engine. This dust by my invention Icollect and deposit in the ash-box, therebypreventing the machincry from becoming clogged and dirtied by the same.

I will now describe my invention, sothat others skilled in the art may manufacture and use the same.

Inside of the smoke-stack is an inner pipe, a, into which the smoke and sparks are carried by the steam which is discharged into the liftpipe. Over and above the top of the pipe to is a cone or cylinder, 1), having the top closed by a diaphragm, b, so that the sparks from the pipe (6 shall strike against the diaphragm b and will-fall into the space 0 between the inner pipe, a, and the smoke-stack. Opening out of the space 0, atthe bottom of the same, are pipes d, through which the-sparks pass from the space tive.

(N0 model.)

0. These pipes 01 lead from the base of the stack to a point under the boilerin rearot' thetrucks. Around the end of the pipes d are water or steam jacketsf, the water or steam being furnished from the boiler through the pipesg and discharged therefrom, meeting the sparks from the pipes d and extinguishing them. Under and in a line with the boiler is a cylindrical pipe, L, which leads from a point directly in rear of the discharge-opening of the pipes d to a point in front of the ash-box N of the locomo- T'his pipe is open at both ends and is attached totheboilerorengine. Itmaybeformed of sheet-iron about ten inches in diameter, and .its forward end is flared or provided with a hood, I, the lower portionofwhich is cut away, as shown in the drawings. Leading from the boiler into the pipe L is a steam-pipe, 0,which discharges steam toward the ash-box N.

The operation of these devicesis as follows: The sparks, cinders, and smoke passing up the pipe a, the cinders and sparks strike against the diaphragm band fall into the space 0; thence they pass through the pipes d, the sparks being extinguished in the water or steamjacket f, and are discharged directly in front of the pipe or cylinder L, under the upper portion of the hood I. The heavier cinders, by their graviiy, fall directly upon the road-bed, while the finer cinders and dust are carried by the draft caused by the motion of the train and by the action of the steam passing from the steampipe 0 into the pipe L, from which they are discharged before the open door of the ash-box N, within which they. are collected, thereby increasing the drai't and preventing annoyance and injury from the dust and dirt. d and L constitute a conduit for conveying dust and cinders from the stack, and from which they are discharged separately.

The advantages of my invention are that the draft in the fire-box is increased and combustion is promoted, thereby causing a great saving in fuel. The sparks are completely extinguished, and theenginc and cars are kept clean and free from dust and cinders. The difi'erent parts of the apparatus are simple, not liable to get out of order, and will not clog with dirt. They are also cheap, light, and easily constructed and placed on the locomotive-engine; and also the heavy cinders which would clog The pipes and choke the pipes and ash-box and interfere with the combustion in the fire-box are also separated from the light and injurious dust, which is easily carried by the draft and buried in the fire-box, passing up thereinto with the draft from the ash-pan.

I am aware that smoke-consumers and sparkarresters have been used on locomotive-en gines, whereby the smoke and cinders have been conducted from the smoke box or stack to the firebox; but all these are more or less complicated, are apt to clog with the dirt, are expensive, and are liable to get out of order. I therefore do not claim these devices but,

Having thus described my invention, WhatI do claim is 1. In a locomotive-engine, a conduit leading from the stack to or to a point in front of the ash-box for conveying the dust and cinders from the stack, and having an opening for the escape therefrom of the cinders or heavier particles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a locomotive-engine, the combination of a conduit for leading the cinders and dust from the stack, with a separator for separating the cinders from the dust, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a locomotive-engine, a pipe or pipes leading from the stack for the purpose of conveying the dust and cinders therefrom, in combination with an extinguishing device for extinguishing the sparks, a separator for separating the heavy cinders from the light cinders and dust, and a pipe forleadingthelatter to or to a point in front of the ash-box. substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a locomotive-engine, a pipe or pipes for conveying sparks and cinders from the stack, in combination with a pipe leadingfrom the discharge of said pipe or pipes to a point in front of the ash-box, and a steam-jet in said pipe, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a locomotive-engine, a pipe or pipes for conveying sparks and cinders from the stack, in combination with a dust pipe leading from the discharge of said pipe or pipes to a point in front of the ash-box, said pipe having a flaring or hooded month, the lower portion of which is open or cut away, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony WhereofI have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of May. A. D. 1882.

GEORGE B. NICHOLS.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM H. MERTIN, HARRY F. NICHOLS. 

